Smithville Nursery to Close

Over 250 workers lose job

Texas-based Berry Nursery has announced the closure of its Vaughn Lane facility in Smithville, a move that will affect more than 250 workers.

The nursery recently filed a mandatory Employee Dislocation Notification with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, revealing that the nursery will be closed by Sept. 30.

The company filed a similar document with Oregon state officials as well, announcing the closure of their location in Cornelius, known as BFN Operations Oregon. Berry nurseries sell to nationwide retailers, including Lowe's, Home Depot and Walmart.

While it is unclear how many of the company’s many locations will be affected, but the Short Mountain Highway facility in DeKalb County will apparently remain open. The company blames stalled homebuilding and the subsequent slump in spending on landscaping for the closings.

The workforce at the Vaughn Lane location varies from around 125 in winter to as many as 450 during the spring season.

The Berry Family of Nurseries was founded in 1993 and is based in Irving, Texas with nurseries in Cornelius, Oregon; Hulbert, Oklahoma; Sims, North Carolina; Grand Haven, Michigan; and Quincy, Florida and Tennessee.